SouthAfrica2008-1

South Africa: October 18 to 31, 2008

with extension November 1 to 5

with John Drummond as Trip Host
and Patrick Cardwell as the Lead Bird Guide

Trip Description:

The main trip will cover a number of key birding spots in South Africa, starting in
Cape Town and surrounding areas and then to Johannesburg and Kueger
National Park. These sites include Cape Point Nature Reserve, Boulders
Coastal Park, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Strandfontein Wetlands,
Langebaan Lagoon, the Strandveld region of Saint Helena Bay, the coastal
foothills and the Berg River estuary, the Tanqua Karoo and back to the edge of
the Cedarberg Mountains, the Little Karoo, the Agulhas Plain, the Langeberg
Mountains via Barrydale, De Hoop Reserve and Potberg Mountain, the eastern
sector of the Agulhas Plain, the Langeberg Mountains, the forest at
Grootvadersbosch, the Succulent Karoo, the Outeniqua mountains, the coastal
village of Wilderness Area. After enjoying birding at these sites, then its off to
Johannesburg and Kruger National Park for another 4 days of birding and
wildlife watching.   This bird list based upon this itinerary for the main trip
averages between 300 to 350 species. With the extension, you should have
the opportunity to see nearly 400 species, including over 75 South African
endemics and another 30 near-endemic species.   Click here to review the list
of endemics and near-endemic bird species for the trip and also a list of
mammals.

The main bird guide for the trip will be Patrick Cardwell, who has been leading
professional bird-watching and safari tours in South Africa for over a decade.
His extensive field experience is well-demonstrated, as he leads an effective
bird-watching tour and provides a delightful trip for all participants. He is a fully
qualified member of the Field Guides Association of South Africa and endorsed
by Bird Life South Africa. He has a personal Southern Africa bird list exceeding
850 species.

The trip will be hosted by John Drummond. John is approaching 6,500 birds
on his world bird list and has birded in 25 countries (including South Africa)
covering 6 continents.    John has been a leader, co-leader or has advanced a
number of international trips
covering Jamaica, Japan, Austrailia and Thailand.

Nestling Tour's Itinerary for South Africa in 2008

1 Day of Day by Day Itinerary

Saturday, Oct 18 Cape Town
Link up with your Avian Leisure representative in the arrivals hall and travel
through to Simon’s Town. After settling in we cross the Cape peninsula to pick
up on the Atlantic seaboard with Bank Cormorant, Cape Cormorant, White-
breasted (Great) Cormorant and Crowned Cormorant in mind. Other sightings
along the rocky shore include African Black Oystercatcher, White-fronted
Plover, Pied Kingfisher and Little Egret. Heading towards Cape Point through
the scenically delightful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve we will search for
Grassbird, Spotted Prinia, Gray-backed Cisticola, Cape Bulbul, Familiar Chat,
Cape Francolin and Rock (Common) Kestrel. Taking a side route to the coast
we will search for Grassbird, Spotted Prinia, Gray-backed Cisticola, Cape
Bulbul, Familiar Chat, Cape Sugarbird, Jackal Buzzard, Cape Bunting, Cape
White-eye and Red-winged Starling.From the heights above Cape Point itself
we will scan for Peregrine Falcon and Cape Siskin as well as passing pelagic
seabirds. Nest stop will be the famous Boulder’s Coastal Park where we will
enjoy close up views of African Penguin coming ashore in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Simon’s Town.

For more of the Day by Day Itinerary with more birding details,
click here.

Your Host and Bird Guide:

Patrick Cardwell has been leading
professional bird-watching and safari tours
in South Africa for over a decade. His
extensive field experience is easly
rememberd as he leads the most effective
and delightful bird watching trips. He is a
fully qualified member of the Field Guides
Association of South Africa and endorsed
by Bird Life South Africa. He has a
personal Southern Africa bird list exceeding
850 species.

The trip will be hosted by John Drummond.
John is approaching 6,500 birds on his
world bird list and has birded in 25
countries (including South Africa) covering
6 continents. John has been a leader, co-
leader or has advanced a number of
international trips covering Jamaica, Japan,
Austrailia and Thailand. John has Ph.D. in
Inorganic Chemistry from Southampton
University, England and has extensive field
experience on a number of bird studies and
has spoken to a number of Audubon on
other ornithological groups.

Brief Itinerary

Friday, October 17: Flight day from the United States for most
participants.
Saturday, October 18: By noon, arrival at Cape Town International
Airport. Bird watching begins at Cape Point Nature Reserve and
Boulders Coastal Park.
Sunday, October 19: Offshore Pelagic trip
Monday, October 20: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and
surrounding areas in morning; Strandfontein Wetlands in the afternoon
Tuesday, October 21: Start of the West Coast leg of the trip, as we
head up to the Langebaan Lagoon and beyond to the Strandveld
region of St Helena Bay
Wednesday, October 22: We begin the with bird watching the
coastal foothills and Berg River estuary area. Next, we head east into
the rain shadow of the Cedarberg Mountains to bird the Tanqua Karoo
Thursday, October 23: In search of a number of arid country
specialties, we start at Tanqua Karoo on a circular route to the edge of
the Cedarberg Mountains
Friday, October 24: We start off with the the Little Karoo, known for
its incredibly diverse mix of succulent vegetation. Next, we descend to
the Agulhas Plain. Also, the Langeberg Mountains via Barrydale.
Saturday, October 25: Start early at De Hoop Reserve and Potberg
Mountain. We then take the ferry across the Breede River to the
eastern sector of the Agulhas Plain. From here, we bird across rolling
wheat lands to the evergreen slopes and indigenous forest of the
Langeberg Mountains.
Sunday, October 26: We start birding the forest at
Grootvadersbosch. Following a picnic breakfast in the forest, we cut
cut through the mountain range via a spectacular pass to the
Succulent Karoo. In the afternoon we cross the rugged Outeniqua
mountains to arrive at the coastal village of Wilderness in the heart of
the Garden Route.
Monday, October 27: Full day birding the impressive indigenous
forests and several wetlands in the Wilderness Area.
Tuesday, October 28: Depart early to arrive at George Airport for
6:50 am flight to Johannesburg and then Nelspruit. Shortly after noon,
we head towards the southern end of Kruger National Park, allowing
plenty of time to get in some birding at Crocodile Bridge at a good try
at some of the trips most colorful and enigmatic bird species.
Wednesday, October 29: After a morning of birding along the loop
road that encompasses the Sabie and Sand rivers in Kruger National
Park, we head west towards Skukuza for productive birding at the
thorn trees there. We will also check more open areas and ripirian
habitat along the way. The day ends with a night drive for bird and
wildlife watching.
Thursday, October 30: Another full day at Kruger National Park,
following a series of loop roads known for excellent birding watching
and wildlife watching from Skukuza to Pretoriuskop.
Friday, October 31: We begin birding early with any remaining
nearby productive birding at Krueger National Park before heading
towards the Abel Erasmus Tunnel in search of the very rare Taita
Falcon. The days continues as we head towards Johannesburg with
productive birding along the way. Some participants may choose
return home on October 31 and may be able to catch an international
flight home after 9 PM. Others can continue with the extension trip.

Extension Description:

The rugged and awe inspiring Drakensberg Mountain range is arguably South Africa’s most prominent geological feature. As
a mountain chain it stretches for nearly a 1000km dividing the savanna woodland along the coastal plain to the east from the
high lying grassland of the central interior. In parts the towering peaks of volcanic rock rise to over 3350 metres to form an
almost impregnable and intimidating escarpment of sandstone and basalt known to early pioneers as the Dragon
Mountains and to the Zulus, who inhabit the plains below the imposing peaks as the ‘Barrier of Spears’.

This phase of our journey takes us from the City of Gold, as Johannesburg has been known since the discovery of this
precious metal in 1886, to the wind swept grasslands of the Highveld to the east of the city. Here we will search the open
grassland and rock studded hills for a select number of species that are either on the extremity of their known range or highly
localized such as Rudd’s and Botha’s Lark.

Beyond the Highveld we descend into the foothills of the Drakensberg itself before tackling the scenically impressive Sani
Pass in search of Cape Siskin, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Bearded Vulture and Sentinel Rock Thrush as prime targets.

Dropping down to lower altitudes we will explore a relic montane forest in search of a suite of secretative forest species
unique to the area before scanning the open grassland for Blue Swallow before heading to Durban for the connecting flight
to Johannesburg.

Main Trip Description:

Note: The following is a nice trip overview for a more detailed itinerary
(including more birding details, click here).

Table Mountain stands astride the Cape Peninsula as a universally
recognized geological landmark associated with times long gone of global
exploration. More recently, the area's biodiversity of life and natural beauty is
recognized worldwide.

Here in the shadow of the main face of towering sandstone, dating back
some 200 million years, lies the city of Cape Town looking west across to
Robben Island and south to the Cape of Good Hope. This spectacular
landscape of mountain splendor is home to a host of highly localized and
sought after South African endemics, such as the Cape Sugarbird and
Orange-breasted Sunbird.

Beyond Cape Point and further to the south, the warm Agulhas and cold
Benguela currents converge to create a nutrient rich offshore pelagic
environment, providing some of the most spectacular pelagic birding in the
world. Aside from the seabirds, the area is rich in marine life with dolphin
and whale regularly seen on trips to the edge of the continental shelf.

To the north, in the rain shadow beyond the imposing barrier of forested
mountain ranges, lies the Great Karoo – a vast thirst land that is host to a
wide diversity of natural delights and specialist life forms that have
successfully adapted to this hot and arid environment.

This is the tapestry of the Western Cape and the start of a two part journey
into the interior of Southern Africa.

Part two of the journey commences with a flight to Johannesburg from the
Garden Route to connect with a short flight to the globally acclaimed Kruger
National Park set in pristine savanna below the Great Escarpment. Here the
geological uplift of catatonic proportions, following the breakup on
Gondwanaland some 200 million of years ago, gave rise to a treasure trove
of valuable mineral wealth and a rich and fertile alluvial landscape.
Biodiversity is unequalled anywhere else in the sub-region. It is home to an
incredible variety of plants, trees, reptiles, insect life, mammals and birds.
This is classic savanna and wild Africa at its best.

Here you will follow roads less traveled in search of totally new birding and
wildlife viewing experiences within a matrix of scenic routes that criss-cross
the mid- section of this enormous National Park.

Not only will you be struck by the sheer diversity of life around you and the
thrill of the chase, as you search for mega listings such as Southern Ground
Hornbill, Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture, Saddle-billed Stork, Kori
Bustard and Secretarybird, but you could also encounter the classic ‘Big
Five’ mammals for which Kruger is famous – African Elephant, Cape
Buffalo, Rhino, Lion and Leopard.

Days are likely to be warm to hot and the nights pleasantly cool. Rain is
unlikely except in the Cape. Clear skies in the evening will add a further
dimension of pleasure to the trip as the southern constellations reveal
themselves for celestial enjoyment to the rhythm and beat of the African
bush.

Brief Itinerary for Extension: November 1 to 5

Saturday, November 1: Early departure after breakfast for
Suikerbosrand south of Johannesburg and then on to
Wakkerstroom.
Sunday, November 2: Full day spent birding in Wakkerstroom
area in search of local endemics.
Monday, November 3: Bird the morning in the Dirkiesdorp
area and then set off for Underberg in the vicinity of Sani Pass.
Tuesday, November 4: Full day birding up the rugged
Drakensberg Escarpment into Lesotho and return in the late
afternoon.
Wednesday, November 5: Bird a local forest for species not
yet encountered on the trip. We will also stop to bird at an open
montane grassland in search of the highly endangered Blue
Swallow. Then off to Durban airport to connect with the flight to
Johannesburg for international flights home.